Kingstown

In one of the biggest upsets of the 2024 T20 World Cup, Afghanistan has beaten Australia by 21 runs in Super 8s in Kingstown to avenge last year’s World Cup loss at the Wankhede stadium in Mumbai. Afghanistan registered their maiden win over Australia across formats, with prospects of who will top Group A wide open. Star Aussie seamer Pat Cummins again made headlines with his second successive hat-trick in the tournament being held in the US and West Indies. 

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Afghan all-rounder Gulbadin Naib was the star with the ball in hand, picking four wickets for 20 runs, while seamer Naveen-ul-Haq returned with three wickets going for the same number of runs. Besides, another hundred-plus stand between Rahmanullah Gurbaz and Ibrahim Zadran was instrumental in Afghanistan putting up a fighting total on the board.

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Australia elected to bowl first after winning the toss. With Ashton Agar replacing Mitchell Starc at the top, the Aussies failed to make an impact early on as Gurbaz and Zadran put up another show in this competition. Both played per how the conditions demanded as Gurbaz top-scored with 61 runs, smashing four sixes and as many fours, and Zadran also struck 51, hitting six boundaries. 

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Marcus Stoinis broke the 118-run opening stand, with the Aussies picking three quick wickets inside the next three overs. 

However, for the second time in two straight games, seamer Pat Cummins picked a T20 WC hat-trick, becoming the first bowler to achieve this feat in the shortest format.

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That put brakes on Afghanistan’s inning as they finished on 148 for six in 20 overs.

Maxwell couldn’t repeat Mumbai heroics

The mighty Australians lost three wickets inside the Powerplay, with none of the top-order batters able to weather the Afghani storm. Afghanistan’s nemesis, Glenn Maxwell, became the centre of attraction, smashing a crucial fifty. 

Though the ‘Big Show’ cracked some blows this time also, the wickets continued to tumble on the other hand, keeping the Aussie camp worried. Naib, the eighth bowler used by Captain Rashid Khan, was the game-changer for them as he tore into the Australian middle order to put their backs against the walls.

Despite batting deep till number eight, Australia failed to hold on to them as they got all out on 127, losing this match by 21 runs.

Even after the loss, they sit in the second position in Group A with one win in two games and, more importantly, a better NRR. While Australia’s last Super 8 game is against India on Monday in St. Lucia, Afghanistan will take on Bangladesh at Kingstown on the same day. 

For Australia to qualify for the semis, they have to beat India, or if India wins, Australia must hope for Bangladesh to beat Afghanistan, keeping Australia’s NRR ahead of them.